The FBI has opened an investigation into the leaks that serve as the basis for an article reporting that the director of the U.S. federal police, Kash Patel, has problems with alcohol consumption, the channel MS Now reported.

An FBI spokesperson denied investigating the origin of this information or its author.

In April, Patel filed a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic and the journalist who authored the article, Sarah Fitzpatrick. According to the report, Patel was under government scrutiny due to "episodes of excessive alcohol consumption" and "unexplained absences."

The investigation into these leaks is unusual insofar as it does not stem from the disclosure of classified information and instead focuses on revelations made to a journalist, according to sources cited by MS Now.

"If confirmed, a criminal FBI investigation into leaks targeting our journalist would represent an attack on the free press and the First Amendment of the Constitution," which guarantees freedom of expression, said The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, in a statement. "We will not be intimidated by illegitimate investigations or other acts of politically motivated retaliation," he added.

When consulted by AFP, an FBI spokesperson categorically denied the existence of such an investigation.

"It is completely false. No such investigation exists, and the journalist referred to is not the subject of any investigation," the FBI spokesperson assured. The federal police official accused the media of "playing the victim" when their information from anonymous sources is questioned.